Golden Knight

NO-- 13th A You saw Adams hit two homeruns as an 8th grader for the Middlesboro Middle School last year. I'll give you that he's more of a power hitter than Holbrook, but I still say that Adams defense needs alot of improvement. Yes-- Frady to is a true 2nd baseman,and a good hitter,but it was you that was giving him a hard time last year about his throwing arm. Finally Brooks did not play the whole season in the outfield when he played it was at third. He may have been in the outfield a couple of times until after mid-season if you recall he broke his wrist and missed the rest of it.

13th A-- I still don't get why you or the coaching staff have Brooks in the outfield to my knowledge he's played very little if any outfield. Breeding on the other hand has played both,and with his speed,and strong throwing arm would be a much better candidate for outfield as well as would Brooks be for 1B. Holbrook is a true 2nd baseman,and an excellent contact hitter,and probably was in the top 3 or 4 in batting average last year. And with him being a senior this year and having done all he has for his team and coach Powell,and coach Sowders it would be a dirty shame to sit a player like him on the bench for a freshman or sophomore who has not proven themselves offensively or defensively yet at the high school level. I to would like for someone to answer the question about Clay Co not having enough players. It seems like a few years ago they had a group together that would be sophomores,juniors,and seniors now that were very good players.

You know---- I mentioned these above teams except for Whitley Co on 12-09-05, and if memory serves me correctly Whitley Co,and Middlesboro split wins and losses last year. I have even put a question out there about the Harlan Co teams. If anyone knows when they may be combined?? As this would definitely strengthen them in the 13th region. Now as for it being all about Middlesboro-- Whats wrong with us having PRIDE in our team? And if there is another team or coach that has accomplished as much as Coach Bill Powell and Middlesboro well lets talk about them. This man has earned the respect he gets.

I'm going with 13-A on this one. I don't see Middlesboro slipping away,it's just that other teams are doing things to improve instead of sitting back on their thumbs. And as for TOURNAMENT EXPERIENCE in addition to what 13-A had said lets not forget that several of these players represented Kentucky quite well up in Illinois after becoming STATE CHAMPS IN 2004 senior league action. Yes- Middlesboro did have a winning season last year,but I really believe in my heart, and also what I know about baseball that if it had not been for mother nature intervening in the Florida,and Lexington games (it hurts to say) Middlesboro would have had a losing season.I also believe that will be turned around this coming season for the better. And as for not being hard nose players I have to use my term BULL BUTTER Earls,Frady,Breeding,Hatmaker, Holbrook if he's playing,and a couple of others go all out when playing. Now- as for being to young of a team no-way Hoskins is the high school equivalent of MLB's Julio Franco he's 23 yrs old. Just kidding I had throw in a little humor to end this. GO JACKETS 2006

For once 13th-A I agree with about 90% of what you said, and I even like the lineup with the exception of their positions, and adding Adams it was about what I had projected. As for Comparoni I agree 100% he would not have been able to help period he was way to slow, and even though he hit left handed he had not proven himself there either. And would probably quit again when the season got under way. Now as for Russell I have watched him play ever since he was six years old, yes he's a strong,fast,good looking athlete,and has a very strong arm from the outfield, but he and the coaches are really going to have some work to do in the hitting department because well below .200 for two straight seasons will not cut it. Where is Holbrook? I would think that he would have to be worked in somewhere. And when the pitching rotation starts you still have Tolliver,Jones,Emert that will hopefully pick up the slack. I still worry when TOURNAMENT time rolls around Bell,Corbin,and S.Laurel will give us trouble.

I agree about Bell Co being competitive next season because if you guys remember they beat Middlesboro in the district tourney and they lost very few players themselves. Does anybody know if the Harlan Co Schools will be combined this year?? The reason I ask is Cumberland,Cawood,and Harlan also had wins over the jackets last season if I remember correctly. I would still like to wait until after spring training before getting on the jackets to hard. However I have to say something about the projected lineup. Casey Earls being the best player Middlesboro has would be an asset no matter where he plays in the lineup, but if he's put behind the plate this would strengthen the defense. Frady-3B, Hatmaker-SS, Holbrook-2B, Brooks-1B. Outfield would be Breeding, Hoskins, Russell, then you would have a host of bench players to back them up. Like----Tolliver,Emert,Jones, and a bunch more freshmen,and sophomores. Russell would not be a good choice for catcher with that slow wind-up he will struggle with throwing out runners. Also I think to much hipe has been put on Russell as a player it may be out of respect for his father, I don't know. But he has hit below .200 for the past two seasons, and he can not pitch under pressure. And as for Hoskins I hope his control has improved from the mound. I may have missed someone not counting the players that have transfered elsewhere,but we still have just over 60 days to work them in.

Will the 13th region teams be able to compete come tournament time??? I myself will remain hopeful for my beloved JACKETS,but won't make a decision until after spring training.